​I'll be the first to admit it. Okay, maybe not the first. It feels like it took me forever to accept and admit this... 10 days specifically. Here it is: I started an online diary about a week and a half ago and found myself not knowing what to post or write about.

Blogs, as they've come to be known are usually subject driven today. When they first made their widespread appearance in the early 2000's blogs were usually more diary-like. The word 'blog' comes from log and it has been said was originally simply meant to mean 'online log' which is pretty much like a diary. Today, not so much.

Where am I going with this?

Not designating a given focus or topic from the get-go for an online blog or diary can be a challenge. This online diary was intended to get back to the original spirit of blogging. In the early days blogs weren't commonly completely for-profit, business-driven or single-subject driven. They were less limited-minded / limiting... less stifled, more personal.

But the problem with 'personal' is...

How personal do you get? What personal subject(s) do you talk about? Do you just write about your day... you know, keep a diary the way you would have when you were a kid? "Dear diary, today we went to the store and I bought a candy bar..." This is all really so awkward. Let's be honest, you probably don't want to get too emotionally personal... well unless you do. As an adult getting overly emotional online can seem redundant and daunting. Have an emotional debate with a significant other? It's most likely now done... over with. The last thing you really want to do is rehash it publicly online. Basically, you want to have fun with this anyway. Had a headache all day? Your back hurt? What fun are those things to write about and 'who would want to hear things like that anyway?' The last thing you want to do is rehash the not-fun moments in life in writing.

Okay, let's be honest I'm just talking about my personal preferences here. You, on the other hand may indeed want to speak about those things online in a diary. You might even dedicate an entire diary or blog to more emotionally-geared subject matter.

Me on the other hand, I'm just doing this mostly for fun and to share... geez, but what is fun to share? To answer that question I have to back up a little bit and ask myself:

What makes something 'fun' for me to share?

My candid answer to that would be 'something that would be worthwhile for people to read' or 'something they'd enjoy, find useful or appreciate.' I'm not talking about 'appreciation' in the sense of egotistical recognition or accolades, but more so appreciation in the sense that people are left with a sense of feeling glad they read something... that it didn't waste their time. So, that leaves me with the question:

Am I writing more 'for me' or for others?

Well the answer for me anyway is 'both!' To me those things can intersect well. However, everyone is different!

Now, without getting 'too niche driven' or 'limiting' as mentioned above... What parts of my life or types of parts of my life (subjects) will be 'go-to's' to write about given the criteria above? Here's my recap: I'd like them to be fun for me to share which in my case means I'd like them to be also valuable to others. I'd also like my diary entries to not be harping on anything too obvious or 'self-focused' like say, a headache or something like that (at least not usually). Maybe you can relate?

I had chickpea pasta for the first time ever tonight. This was an event even after having already tried green lentil pasta, black bean pasta and other veggie pastas. I have to say I've liked them all... but I had a special feeling about chickpea pasta. The brand I purchased was Explore Cuisine and after it's trip home from the grocery store it sat in my cabinet for two weeks.

After tonight, I can officially say that chickpea pasta and I are a match made in fluffy fusilli heaven. Firstly, I love chickpeas... secondly, I like pasta. This blend is a well-done best of both worlds. Strangely enough you can eat it even without sauce! It already naturally has 'creamy / sticky' texture to it after boiling. Before I adopted a vegan diet, I did come to know the texture of 'egg noodles' and I would compare chickpea pasta in some ways to them! (only a much better alternative in so many ways).

Add all of the above with the fact that you drop some of the guilt (there are carbs in this but not quite as many) of eating traditional heavy pasta while picking up more protein and you've got a winning replacement for your usual pasta lunches and dinners for sure.

After cooking per the box instructions, to dress this pasta I added a very small amount of olive oil (you don't have to add much), olives, spinach leaves, tomato, and red onions. Delicious, easy and healthy... though you wouldn't know it. You feel like you're just eating rich pasta. This is also a shoo-in noodle for creamy / cheezy plantbased sauces too. (Though I've loved them I can't really say that about the other veggie pastas I've had).

I enjoy playing the drums and always have (but took a break from it for several years).

My background is in teaching and marketing.

I've struggled with chronic pain that started in my very early 20's and that's what lead me on my journey to healing & self-discovery. Just like anyone (yep, even celebrities who irresponsibly market themselves as 'perfected') I'm still on it, but I'm so happy to share what I've discovered thus far.

My favorite food is probably... a plain toasted bagel and thank goodness I'm typing it because I've been told I don't pronounce it correctly. ;)

Ever wonder where you should 'Start sharing your content & messages first?' ...or even "What IS my message anyway?" Perhaps you know what your message is overall and you can feel it, but you would love to see it hashed out a little bit better... but in the meantime, you feel that you don't want to waste precious time when it comes to posting and sharing!

The answer to these sorts of questions isn't the same for everybody... However, If you are the creative/quietly expressive type and OR Really & truly brand new, just starting out (to get your message out there)... this idea is for you. . .

"Create where you feel inspired to create and then... syndicate."

​By doing so, you both ascertain more of your message... get to literally hash out the wording as you feel inspired AND post in the meantime. You can always reuse those posts, the wording you liked, and syndicate those messages on other channels later. Don't get wrapped up in worrying about 'the latest platform where 'all the people are.' Post where you feel inspired first! Post through the medium or platform that is easiest and or gives you the most comfort and inspiration first. If it's your perfected message to share you're after, worry about numbers and viewer count only secondly.

This is the principal behind my composition first method. It's the method I use & the one I highly recommend to #artists , #writers , #teachers , #counselors , #mission based #leaders, and other #creatives . If you have had trouble finding your flow look no further and try this method. Numbers come second to your message.

​If you want people to find you, simply start talking

If you want to serve people start listening. If you want people to find you, start talking."And Know that... Sometimes you have to Keep talking. For a while. But realize you should never. Never give up. Instead, KEEP TALKING. (In any form that takes for you.) ...writing, speaking, playing, singing, drawing... they are all forms of speaking. Keep Doing It. -continue to speak even when it seems like no one is hearing. Don't stop. That is key.

You must do this if you are camera shy. This tip works on the basic psychological principal of 'de-sensitization' which means it bypasses and 'confidence' barriers, thoughts about your own looks (whether you love them or don't love them so much) etc!

Here it is... straight from my original post on Instagram:

This is my biggest tip for overcoming camera-shyness or even audio recorder shyness / fear of your own voice. It may not sound like much... but there is great psychology to it... BUT here's the key: once you do this you MUST force yourself to listen to it or watch it fully no matter how 'bad' it is or uncomfortable you feel. This is the most important psychological piece (in my opinion). It's desensitizing or formally called desensitization. ... and no matter what your 'reason(s)' are for hiding or staying quiet... it's a way around them without over-focusing on them (which can sometimes only make things even tougher!) Hope you enjoyed this tip. Remember, just one little bit at a time. We're not going for speed here.

It's ok to be different. If there's one thing I want you to know... aside from you can do it... and I mean that, it's that it's okay to be different.

My life has been a series of Or push & pull if you will... between feeling really different (that can often times be influenced by environment) and... feeling really ok with that. The Truth is, it's really ok to be different... the trouble is then you ask yourself "well, if I'm Too different, how can I benefit from the tried and tested methods to achieve the results in business or in life that I want. ...And it's true, it's not always beneficial to be a flailing around like a rebel without a cause. ...nor does it always help to put or force All the Focus on your 'differences' or 'uniqueness.' The truth is sometimes you just have to well convey that you can help and / or get the job done. ...So how do you balance all that?

⭐️You Learn all the tried & tested rules so you can make Conscious decisions on when and where to break them.

When it comes to marketing. I help people learn the rules without feeling consumed by them.

Did you know? Pushing yourself to wear bright colors (even just a hint of brightness) when you're feeling down can cheer you up (or keep you going through the day)? Not your your thing / what works for you? Then it's still a great idea to note what Does work for you on those kinds of days and do it when you need to. It can be easy to forget in the moment unless you keep reminders or make a note.

One of the things I do if I'm feeling down in the morning is choose my brightly colored shows. You can also choose a scarf with a pop of color, a subtle band or bracelet, or even something that you wear under your clothing and not visibly (if necessary or preferred).

When you wake up with that depressed feeling many of us admittedly know all too well, putting on a little something of bright color is, if not anything else, a reminder to yourself of your commitment to yourself. There are actions you can still take, even while feeling sad, even while not attached to the outcome. Sometimes simply taking the action itself is enough of a jolt to your subconscious to remind it that you're not powerless and that you do have the power to add cheer into the world... even while feeling down. It can help you to proceed. Give it a try! If you try this trick and it works for you or makes even the subtlest of difference, write me to let me know!

What do you do when your pen isn't coordinated with the vignettes and color scheme on the table and you don't have enough cute things in your life... A few months ago on Instagram stories I addressed our obsession with cute. Should you really 'go cute or go home?' (Like you may sometimes consciously or subconsciously believe)?

Where is the line drawn between professionalism, coordinated branding and an unhealthy obsession with being cute before all else? For some, the latter just becomes an imagined barrier to entry or an excuse to stop.

Bottom line: If you have a TRUE, a REAL message to share... just start doing it and don't you worry about the 'cute.' You can use that as a tool later if you have to to attract a bigger audience and grow your numbers, but it should never be priority number one. Let others gravel over cute. Perhaps you're in another league. Your loving message is most important and what others are waiting for and need to hear.